My Utmost for His Highest accompanies me in my morning quiet and sometimes not so quiet times before and with the Lord.
I have read his devotional more than once - but every time I read something I have already laid my eyes upon, my heart seems to find new and unexplored words and Ideas and responses of the soul.
I have to admit, I am not such a great fan endings - I much more enjoy the process of something happening than the end of it. Let's take Christmas as an example. When September ends and October knocks on the door - my heart gets all excited - I have 3 whole months of heart preparation for multiple feasts. Turkeys are sold, pumpkins are carved and eventually Christmas lights splash color over dark neighborhoods - the time of waiting and anticipating is thrilling and warms the heart during a chilly season.
Then it all ends. No pumpkins and no Christmas lights. Yes -I am a huge fan of Christmas lights.
Now, what does mister Chambers have to do with all of this you may be wondering?
It is January 8th and today I read about Abraham and his sacrifice https://www.lds.org/scriptures/ot/gen/22.1-18?lang=eng. Many people when listening to this story either out loud or in their minds respond 'how can he do such a thing - be willing to sacrifice his own son? And God? seriously....'
I did. Still do now and then - when my heart falls asleep and I forget who my Father is, His character and heart for me.
Mister Chambers writes ' This incident is a picture of the blunder we make in thinking that the final thing God wants of us is the sacrifice of death.'
True. Have you heard sentences such as these: pick up your cross every single day or you must die to yourself if you want to follow Christ? I think so.
Epic and scary. Why? Why do our hearts get so frightened at these words? Yes - we do often think that all God wants from us is to give up things - for the sake of what? Just dying? But didn't He say that He is the Way the Truth and the LIFE. In Him there is no death - only Life.
Mister Chambers also writes that ' It is of no value to God to give Him your life for death.' A sigh of relief and a question whether I truly know His character and His good plan for me and that truly and surely and indubitably in Him there is only LIFE.
All of this reminds me of a song from Jesus Culture http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWCgyMaWcDs
Listen, soak in His LIFE giving presence and be filled.
